Quest for Harmony-EDIT IN PROGRESS (Note: changing story to present tense)

Spike shut his eyes, enjoying the ride, while Twilight concentrated on what she should do. Celestia had arranged for her to stay in a library, yes, but how could she avoid interaction with the other ponies at first? She wouldn’t have time- not with the Summer Sun celebration less than a week away. She would have to be ready for Nightmare’s return! Friendship could wait until the evil was vanquished.

The chariot landed on the edge of Ponyville.

“This is as far as her royal highness Celestia will allow us to go. Guards in Ponyville could spook the villagers. Fare you well, Lady Twilight.” said one of the pegasus guards.

“Farewell to you as well,” replied the unicorn.

“Enough formalities,” Spike put in. “Celestia said to make friends, so let’s go meet other ponies!”

“Ok,” said Twilight, “But I’m not going to like it!”

She strode into town, her assistant on her back, and noticed a pink earth pony with a curly mane nearby.

“Um- hi..?” began the bookworm.

Instead of answering, the strange pony gasped loudly and bolted, a blur of pink.

Twilight blinked a few times, not knowing how to respond to the situation.

“Ok then…” said Spike. “So that happened. Now what?”

“Spike, the list.”

“What list?”

“The one Princess Celestia gave you, for places I should go to make ...friends.”

“Oh, you mean this list?” asked the baby dragon, taking a roll of parchment and ink from his pack.

“Yes, that one.”

The mare took the list from the dragon’s claws with her magic.

“Let’s see, the first place on the list is Sugarcube Corner, on the tavernkeepers’ lane. And look, it’s near the library! Let’s get this over with.”

She and her assistant trotted into the building, and while Twilight introduced herself to the proprietors- Mr. and Mrs. Cake, Spike looked at all the sweets- and begged Twilight to let him get something. After several minutes of incessant begging, Twilight finally agreed- and her assistant got into so much sugar, he wound up falling asleep in the bakery once the sugar wore off.

Mr. and Mrs. Cake agreed to keep the little dragon until he woke up.

Now to get some studying done at the library, thought the unicorn- until she was interrupted by a filly’s terrified scream.

Now, Twilight didn’t exactly like other ponies, but her ancient instincts took over- if a foal was in danger, she had to help them.

The mare charged through a crowd- and found herself looking at a slave auction.

She was used to slavery back in Canterlot- her family didn’t keep slaves, but the princess did. All she’d heard said slaves were worthless, had no emotions, didn’t have families, weren’t anything more than a commodity to be bought and sold, but the scene before her made her rethink what everything she had been told.

A pale gold earth pony filly was being led away-forcibly- by a haughty-looking unicorn stallion. Behind him, a gold-orange mare covered with scars tore loose from her bonds and reared on her back legs, challenging the unicorn. She was taller than he was.

“You blasted slave traders may have killed mah parents and taken mah granny and brother, but Cerberus take me if I’m going to allow you to lay a hoof on mah little sister!” snapped the older earth pony.

“H-hold her back!” stammered the unicorn, clearly terrified.

The earth mare’s voice calmed a bit, though it clearly took a lot of effort. “Or if you must take her, take me too. Ah can do all kinds of heavy labor. Just let me stay with mah sister…”

“I-I’m afraid we, uh, have no openings at the moment!” stammered the still-frightened stallion. He took the bound filly and bolted.

Twilight watched the scene with astonishment. Wait- Slaves have families? They actually care for their kinfolk? I never knew that? And- and that could have been my brother and me when we were younger…

As she continued watching, Twilight noticed the gold-orange earth pony tense and give chase-only to be brought down by a lasso around all four legs. The mare was dragged off, though she fought and struggled to get away.

As for Twilight, she felt a new resolve pulsing through her.

She trotted briskly up to the pony selling the slaves.

“How much for the gold-orange mare?” she asked.

“You don’t look strong enough to handle her…” began the auctioneer. “This here slave calls herself ‘Applejack’, but in the trade she’s called ‘Blood-Orange’.  She’s the deadliest slave there is- doesn’t realize her place is to obey her master’s commands. And can she kick..! I heard when one of her masters tried to discipline her with the whip. she fractured his skull.”

A… whip… That’s it. Despite what I’ve been told, that is just not right. More power to her!

Though tempted to say this aloud, Twilight decided to keep her mouth shut.

“I am stronger than I look. And seeing as she’s a fighter, I doubt you’ll get any more offers. So I repeat, how much for Applejack?”

“Um… Is fifty bits ok? I can go lower…”

Twilight got fifty bits out of her saddlebag.

“Are there any more offers?” asked the auctioneer.

Every single pony in the entire crowd quickly avoided eye contact. They all seemed to be afraid of the gold-orange mare.

“Going once, going twice… SOLD! To…” He paused a moment. “I never got your name, miss…”

“Sparkle. Twilight Sparkle.”

“SOLD to Twilight Sparkle for fifty bits!” The auctioneer lowered his voice again. “I just hope you know what you are getting into. Good luck- you’re going to need it.”

Twilight cautiously approached the slave mare, avoiding direct eye contact- she didn’t want to seem a threat- and picked the earth pony’s lead chain up with her telekinesis. Then she headed to the library, the earth pony in tow.

Once she was out of sight in the library, the unicorn used her magic to break the collar and chains.

“You’re free now, Applejack,” she whispered.

“While ah appreciate the sentiment,” replied Applejack, “You did pay for me. Ah’m in your debt. By the way, yer name’s ‘Twilight’, ain’t it?”

“Yes, Twilight Sparkle, or Twilight for short. By the way, you are not in my debt….” she began. Then she noticed books scattered everywhere in the library.

“Oh no, this mess will take hours to clean up! And I still have studying to do!”

“Ah’ll do it,” said Applejack.

Before the unicorn could protest, the orange mare busied herself cleaning up.

“Applejack, there’s no need…”

The earth pony shushed her. “Ah’m in your debt, ma’am. Ah’ll take care o’ this. You get yer studyin’ done!”

Twilight opened her mouth to argue, but realized this earth pony was stubborn. Arguing would be useless.

“Well… Okay, Applejack…”

While Applejack cleaned up, Twilight went to her studies, eventually falling asleep- and forgetting she’d left her assistant at Sugarcube corner.